Method For Sealing a Wheel Rim

ABSTRACT

A method to repair the leakage of air from a wheel rim by using a sealer having a first layer made of fibrous material with at least one side adhesive and a second layer of a spreadable sealant applied over the first layer in order to seal failures such as cracks or holes in the wheel rim produced by high stress, corrosion or collisions.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

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RELATED APPLICATIONS

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a method of repairing a wheel rim,particularly the method of using a sealer to cover the fractures andcracks at the wheel rim in order to avoid the leakage of air from thetire.

2. Discussion of the Background

Vehicle wheel rims are subject to high stresses, corrosion, collisionsand other situations which increase the fatigue failure of the rimresulting in cracks and holes created around the wheel rim. Air isleaked out potentially resulting in a flat tire or even an accident.Many manufacturers are oriented in the restoring and reinforcing of thewheel rim in order to increase the life of the wheel. However thistreatment can be expensive and most of the time not cost efficient. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,591 to Lamping discloses a method forrestoring the wheel, wherein a vehicle wheel of lightweight alloy isprovided with a replaceable beadseat protector which protects thebeadseat area of the rim of the wheel from tire abrasion and chafing andsubsequent corrosion. The beadseat protector which is provided after thewheel is machined, as disclosed by Lamping, and is not intended to sealcracks but to cover and protect the annular beadseat.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,305,622 to Mitchell discloses a wire wheel sealingstructure made of plastic materials applied to the rim by spraying ordripping onto the rotating rim layers of a molten thermoplastic materialuntil a ribbon of the required thickness has been built up. This wirewheel sealing structure as mentioned above is made by applying multiplelayers all over the beadseat surface which is time consuming andexpensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the Prior Art byproviding a sealing structure that is easy to apply and less expensive.

Accordingly, one object of the invention is to provide a method to sealfractures at the wheel rim without machining it.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method to seal fracturesthat is easy to apply.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method toseal fractures that is less expensive than the conventional methods.

The invention itself, both as to its configuration and its mode ofoperation will be best understood, and additional objects and advantagesthereof will become apparent, by the following detailed description of apreferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

The Applicant hereby asserts, that the disclosure of the presentapplication may include more than one invention, and, in the event thatthere is more than one invention, that these inventions may bepatentable and non-obvious one with respect to the other.

Further, the purpose of the accompanying abstract is to enable the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially thescientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiarwith patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from acursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure ofthe application. The abstract is neither intended to define theinvention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is itintended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings which are incorporated herein constitute partof the specifications and illustrate the preferred embodiments of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the wheel rim.

FIG. 2 is a view of the tire and the wheel rim.

FIG. 3 is a view of a wheel rim with fractures.

FIG. 4 is a view of a first layer seal over wheel rim fractures.

FIG. 5 is a view of a second layer seal over wheel rim fractures.

FIG. 6 is a view of the repaired wheel rim with tire.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the first layer.

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of section VIII—FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a view of a separate made first layer.

FIG. 10 shows a flow chart of the method.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention relates to a method of repairing fractures on awheel rim caused by high stress, corrosion, collisions and othersituations which increases the fatigue failure of the rim.

FIG. 1 shows a wheel rim 2, made of a ferrous material such as aluminumand other ferrous materials. Typically the tire is mounted over the rimas show in FIG. 2. While driving, for example, the wheel rim 2 isexposed to high stress, corrosion and collisions which increase thefailure of the rim producing fractures or cracks 4 over the rim surface.Consequently a fracture 4 over the rims 2 surface produces air leakage.Water mixed with liquid soap is sprayed over the wheel rim surface whichcontacts the air leakage producing bubbles in order to find the fracture4 area. After the failure 4 is located the technician marks the area ofthe air leakage, the tire 3 is removed from the rim, and the dirt aroundthe failure area is removed using a metallic brush. Removing dirt avoidsthe sealer's displacement and improves the contact between the sealer 5and the rim.

The preferred embodiment of the sealer 5 comprises a first layer 5 b ofa fibrous material having adhesive on the side which contacts the rim.The first layer 5 b covers the fracture 4 while it is fixed to the rim2. After the first layer 5 b is fixed a second layer 5 a is applied oversaid first layer 4.

FIGS. 7-9 shows more in detail sealer 5, especially the first layer 5 bwhich has different dimensions (X, Y and Z) and becomes narrower towardthe borders. The first layer 5 b is integrally made as a singlestructure, as in FIG. 8, or a combination of multiple sheets 6, 7 and 8having at least an adhesive side.

Each sheet has different sizes increasing from bottom to top as shown inFIG. 9. The use of multiple sheets 6-8 and increments in size provides astronger first layer 5 b and avoids damages to the first layer 5 b inview of the fact that the sheet 7 or 8 at the top holds or fixed thesheet at the bottom better to the rim, and as the thickness decreases atthe borders of the first layer 5 b an inclined surface is createdavoiding first layer's 5 b displacement due to pressure gradients ortire displacement that occurs when the tire is being adjusted orinflated. Air pressure or physical tire collision with the first layercan move it easily if the layer does not have a smooth and inclinedsurface. The first layer's 5 b thickness Z may vary depending on thematerial; however thickness and material has to be strong enough towithstand the pressure and temperature.

The second layer 5 a of sealer 5 is a spreadable sealant which isapplied over the first layer 5 b and helps to prevent the first layer's5 b displacement and leakage of air. After the second layer 5 a isapplied the technician waits until the sealants dry and mounts the tire.

While the invention has been described as having a preferred design, itis understood that many changes, modifications, variations and otheruses and applications of the subject invention will, however, becomeapparent to those skilled in the art without materially departing fromthe novel teachings and advantages of this invention after consideringthis specification together with the accompanying drawings. Accordingly,all such changes, modifications, variations and other uses andapplications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of theinvention are deemed to be covered by this invention as defined in thefollowing claims and their legal equivalents. In the claims,means-plus-function clauses, if any, are intended to cover thestructures described herein as performing the recited function and notonly structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.

All of the patents, patent applications, and publications recitedherein, and in the Declaration attached hereto, if any, are herebyincorporated by reference as if set forth in their entirety herein. All,or substantially all, the components disclosed in such patents may beused in the embodiments of the present invention, as well as equivalentsthereof. The details in the patents, patent applications, andpublications incorporated by reference herein may be considered to beincorporable at applicant's option, into the claims during prosecutionas further limitations in the claims to patentable distinguish anyamended claims from any applied prior art.

1. A method for repairing a wheel rim fracture comprising the step of:identifying the air leakage at the rim; marking the rim's fracture area;removing the tire; cleaning and removing dirt from the rim's fracturearea using a brush; applying a sealer over the rim's fracture, whereinsaid sealer comprises a first layer having an adhesive side withnarrower thickness toward the border; and mounting said tire.
 2. Amethod for sealing a wheel rim fracture as in claim 1, wherein saidsealer further comprises a second layer made of a spreadable sealantwhich is applied over the first layer.
 3. A method for sealing a wheelrim fracture as in claim 1, wherein said first layer is made of afibrous material.
 4. A method for sealing a wheel rim fracture as inclaim 1, wherein said first layer is made with multiple sheets havingdifferent sizes, wherein the smallest one is closer to the rim fracture.5. A sealer for repairing a wheel rim fracture comprising: a first layerhaving an adhesive side wherein the first layer thickness decreasetoward said first layer border.
 6. A method for sealing a wheel rimfracture as in claim 5, wherein said sealer further comprises a secondlayer made of a spreadable sealant which is applied over the firstlayer.
 7. A method for sealing a wheel rim fracture as in claim 5,wherein said first layer is made of a fibrous material.
 8. A method forsealing a wheel rim fracture as in claim 5, wherein said first layer ismade with multiple sheets having different sizes, wherein the smallestone is closer to the rim fracture.